Kazakhstan’s priorities for WTO’s 13th ministerial conference announced
A Special Meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organization was held to discuss progress on various negotiating tracks ahead of the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held from 25 to 29 February in Abu Dhabi, El.kz cites MFA.
The event was attended by Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of MC13, who briefed on the UAE Government’s preparations for the conference.
In accordance with the decisions taken at MC12, which was successfully chaired by Kazakhstan in June 2022, as the main priorities of Kazakhstan at the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative Zhanar Aitzhan noted the achievement of multilateral agreements on: (i) WTO reform, including the full restoration of the Dispute Settlement Body; (ii) the development of e-commerce, including a decision on the non-imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions; (iii) reform of the agricultural subsidy with the aim of leveling the playing field between members; (iv) trade in services, (v) increasing the participation of women and small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade.
Permanent Representative Zhanar Aitzhan also welcomed the completion of negotiations on the WTO Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development, which have been held since 2018 with the active participation of Kazakhstan. In this regard, the representative of Kazakhstan noted that the adoption of the agreement during MC13 will be fully consistent with the national priorities of diversifying the economy by improving the investment and business climate.
The key provisions of the agreement are designed to ensure transparent and predictable investment and business climate and introduce international standards for investment promotion, and thus facilitate the conditions for investors to invest and expand their operations. The agreement will contribute to the overall economic growth of WTO members by creating jobs, attracting capital for the production of goods and services, stimulating innovation and promoting entrepreneurship, particularly for the benefit of developing and least developed countries.
The Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan also made a report as chair of the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services, noting the results of work for 2023. In conclusion, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala thanked Kazakhstan for its active participation in the negotiation processes in preparation for the MC13 and expressed the hope that the successful experience of our country as chair of the 12th Ministerial Conference will also make a significant contribution to the success of the upcoming event.
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